1928-03-22 — Page 11

THE METAL BOX

By THOMAS COBB.

(Author of "Fales.Pretences," Mré. Pomeroy's Reputation, kè.)

CHAPTER XXII.

A SUSPECT.

metal box, Inspector."??

Inspector Pow felt certain she was telling the truth, and straight In Park Lane Inspector Pow way removed her name from his hesitated for a few moments original list of suspects. Walking whether to return to Scotland Yard back to the taxi, he directed the at once or go to Downshire Hall driver to Scotland Yard, wishing true that that he had sent someone else to Hampstead. It was Martha Koene had already admit Mountport instead of Sergeant ted letting a young man with red Galloway. There was no one whone hair into the house at Boynton opinion he valued more highly, and Crescent, but now it was possible he would have liked to discuss the to place the matter beyond doubt, case in all its bearings. It would, by showing her Everard Parkin however, be impossible to see him the before the morning, and the do- son's photograph. Besides, might have something more to tell! cision concerning Everard Parkin-

A passing taxicab solved the In-son must be made to-night. apector's doubts, and on the way

He would lay the evidenca before to Hampstead, he reminded him the Chief Immediately he reached self that the woman's own the Yard. With his approval, actions that Thursday even Parkinson should be at once arrest ing could scarcely be aaided, but left to himself Inspector to be accounted for. Between Pow scarcely knew!

On leaving Park Lane he had no! half-past four when she left the house, and a quarter to eleven, doubt that Everard had been at when she enlisted the aid of the Baynton Crescent on Thursday constable, nothing was known of night, but as he stood talking to Martha Keen, another explanation her movements.

of the presence of the glove had rather distractingly occurred to him.

She had had ample time to enter surreptitiously and ransack the rooms in search of the box, of the

And as it had occurred to his existence of which she might easily have been aware. Inspector Pow own mind, it would not be over wished to take every possibility looked by the shrewd criminal into account. Parkinson had been solicitor, who was certain to be em- on the spot-he felt certain of nloyed by the accused man. A fair- that but there might be another ly good defence! incident which required linking Everard had admittedly been at up with his presence and on the the house three days before the whole it seemed possible that crime. His glove had been found Martha Keens might still have by the open scullery window on something to say. She looked like Friday morning, the day after. a woman who had something weigh-But suppose he were prepared to ing on her mind!

swear he had left it behind on his Leaving his taxi at the corner first, and as he would say, his only by the police station, Inspector Pow visit!

Inspector Pow would no doubt walked slowly along the rural-look- Ing road towards the Heath, and gain considerable kudos if Parkin- stopping at a gate about half-way men were convicted, and promotion down, took stock of the little house, might follow in due course. His with its bow window, trellis work rentation, on the other hand, porch and small front garden. would suffer if his prisoner were When he rang the bell, Martha ncouitted, the more because he was opened the door, looking as clean the son of a well-known man. as ever, but as unattractive,

On the whole the Inspector felt "Dear me, Inspector!" she ex-anxious to share the responsibility, claimed with a start. "How the

CHAPTER XXIII. sight of you doos bring back that dreadful time at poor Miss Croom's."

Standing in the porch, Pow took the photograph from his breast pocket.

"Just have a look at this," he auid.

answered, the "Why," she moment she took it in her hand, "that's the young gentleman Dr. Markwell came to ask about-"

"The one you let in the Monday before the murder. Now," asked the Inspector,, "was that the only time you saw him?"

"He'd never been before," she Insisted, "and he never came again." "How long after his departure was it when you saw Miss Croom next?"

AN INCRIMINATING ADMISSION. Although one or two visitors came to the house in Park Lane that afternoon, Mr. Lupton did not require to be told that Lady Parkin- son was "not at home."

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

ARMY PAYMASTER ROBBED.

ACCOMPLICES WHO MADE OFF WITH BOOTY,

A convict, sentenced in 1922 to 20 years for a theft of 8,500,000 francs, which have not been re- covered, excaped from Devil's Is- land last year and has just been recaptured.

He bad, it seems, "returned to the scene of the crime"-not. for the superstitious reasons nscribed to Eugene Aram criminals but because he hoped to get at the lost millione

Finger-Prints.

J

Those millions had been stolen from a French army paymaster at Quedzem, in Morocco. The con- vict Barbalozzi bad kept a cafe there.

When arrested he said his ac

or stolen complices had hidden off with the booty,

The police were auspicious about the prisoner's story, but the money was not found.

After his flight from the island no trace of him was discovered, and it was believed that he had perished while trying to reach the Brazilian coast.

at

Recently the Spanish police Totuan arreated OB a theft a wandering charge of

finger-prints Frenchman. His proved to be those of the escaped convict Barbalozzi.

The French police are con vinced that the criminal had dared all in returning to Morocco. In the hope of finding the millions which had been hidden before his arrest in 1922.

. Whether he now knows where the hiding-place is cannot yet be decided,

Prison of Dreyfus. Devil's Island, or the Ile du Diable, is one of

a group of le lands off the const of French Gutann, notorious as the prison of Alfred Dreyfus from 1804-99.

This island of terror, begirt with shark-infested seas, has the reputation of being the most dreadful place in the world. Here are sent political prisoners. and criminals who have been banished for life..

THURSDAY, MARCH

JUMPED TOO LATE

FROM PLANE.

FLYING OFFICER'S STORY OF HIS OWN DESCENT.

The tragedy of the two aero- planes which came into collision Folkestone over the cliffs near was described at the inquest at on "Pilot Hawkinge Aerodrome Ofleer Eric J. Watson, who was

dashed to death near the aero-

drome.

His machine and another piloted by Flying Officer Walsh set out from Hawkingo for together

were about manoeuvres, and 1,000ft up when the collision or curred. Flying Officer Walek im- mediately jumped with his para- chute and escaped serious injury, but Filot Offeer Watson delayed

ing to right his machine. his jump too long, apparently try-

Flight Lieut. Gilbert Harcourt Smith, of Hawkinge® Aerodrome, said that Pilot Officer, Watson was twenty-one years of age and be- longed to No. 25 Fighting Squa- dron. He was accustomed to fly- ing the Gloucester-Grebe single- seater fighting machine which ho was" plioting at the time of the ac- cident. The machine was in good order.

"I examined the parachute after the accident, and found it was torn throughout the length of ono seam," said the officer.

Giving the possible solution for the fallure of the parachute, Flight Lieut. Smith said: "In making a parachute descent from an aircraft it is necessary to be quite clear of the aircraft before opening the parachute. It is pos- sible this officer was not clear when he pulled his rip and the parachute was caught in some part of the machine and torn."

Mr. Mowll (the Coroner): Ts that your view of what happen- ed?--Yea.

When a man is descending by parachute from his aircraft there is a moment when he has nothing to hold on to?-Yes. He should fall through space for ten seconds before pulling the cord. Actually he is taught to count.

Mr. Mowll: It requires a little courage, I should think.

Another possible solution was that Pilot Omcor Watson did not make use of his parachute quickly Few. have ever escaped from enough. From 150 to 200 feet, thia grim island, and those only wore required for a parachute to after suffering untold hardships.operate and slow up the man.

The machine did not catch fire until after its impact with the ground.

Ruse that Failed.

One man managed to get him self nailed up in a packing-case labelled "Rare plants. Keep away from boilers and water frequent- ly."

But the ruse falled and he came back to further torture..

Another attempt was made by

The Attack.

"On Friday afternoon," stated Flying Officer Leonard Arthur Walsh, "I told Pilot Officer Watson to do individual combat with me.

Neither she nor Sir Joseph had left the morning-room since De-a man who stabbed himself in the was his senior. We both went

the

butler,

tective-Inspector Pow's, departure, always attentive, thought he would venture to serve afternoon ton there.

They were sitting very miser- ably one on each side of the fire; which had died rather low. Lady Parkinson held a damp handker- chief in her hand, and still sobbed at. intervals, while her husband leaned back in his chair, his hands thrust deep in his trousers pockets, his long legs stretched out, a short briar root pipe between his teeth. "Well, she did," replied Martha.

Lupton brought in the tray him "Her hund was all of a tremblefself, but Lady Parkinson paid no like."

attention, till Sir Joseph rose, and "Still you hadn't heard anything standing by the low table, rather to make you think there, was, a clumsily filled a cup, passing it to quarrel 7"

"I took her ten in directly." "Did she seem upset?" suggested

Tow.

Martha shook her head, as In- spector Pow thrust his hand in his picket, bringing out a pale yellow glove.

her.

shoulder and was carried to the up and practised getting Into posi- room us dead. The tion. He was in theory to try to dissection next morning both he and the hit. operating table had disappeared.

He used the table as a raft to cross the rivers, on the way to Venezuela,

1

Others have used coffins in or- der to make their escape, but the sharks have taken full toll of the fugitives.

"When we were just over two thousand feet up he attacked me three times. After that he broke nway and I saw him about a mile away from me.

"To enable him to catch me up throttled my engine back to one thousand revolutions and flow straight and level towards Dover.

"The next thing, I looked round and saw a pair of planes in verti- cal bank turning into me on the starboard side.

"Then I felt the Impact, and my machine, went out of control. My wings. were not damaged, but the tail of my plane was cut off.

"When I realised the position I did my best to get out of the seat in my machine.. I succeeded,

"When I got out of the machine

I counted eight, and then pulled

"Still," Lady Parkinson urged, when they were alone again, "you do know he's innocent"

"Of murder, yes, of course, 1 know. But if he hadn't tried to get hold of these infernal jewels of yours, he would never have been "Drink this, anyhow, he urged, suspected. It'll look precious bad and she took the saucer in her hand..for him, when it's proved, as it will "Ah, Joe." sho said, "poor be, that he employed some wretch- Everard's given me

an many ed woman as a decoy, and held a re- "Now, Miss Keene," he said. " anxious moment since he was born, volver to Markwell's head. Good want you to be careful. Have you but never anything like this before. God! a man who'd do that, would my 'rip cord. My parachute imme- ever seen this before?"

Never!"

do pretty well anything. And what diately opened and acted well "Never!"

"A damnable shame!" cried was it all for" demanded Sir Owing to a strong north wind I "I have reason to believe the Sir Joseph. "I make no bones Joseph. "Just to get money to was blown towards the sea. By visitor was wearing it that Monday about it. The boy'a n waster. A squander on some girl he met in epilling air, however, I managed afternoon,"

gambler. Bill after bill, ho's ac the States."

to come down on some telegraph "You asked me before," exclaim-cepted knowing I should have to "He wants to marry, her, Joe" wires some twenty yards from the ed Martha. "And I told you Itake them up. As bad as stealing, murmured Lady Parkinson. couldn't say whether he wore gloves He'll never do any good for himself

"To marry her! If I gave him edge of the cliff on the main Dover- or not."

Ins long as he lives, nor for any- the money to buy a license, he'd Folkestone road. A civilian help- "Yes, yes," urged Pow, but 1 body else."

spend it on the way to the re-ed me down to the rond."

The jury returned a verdict of wondered whether he might c "This may prove A lesson to gistrar's. How many times have cidentally have left this one behind him," said Lady Parkinson with a squared things up for him, and "Death by Misadventure," and ex- pressed sympathy with Mr. Wat- "I should have found it when I "No," retorted Sir Joseph. "It "It's no use to rake up the past son's relatives.

him."

deep sigh.

each was to be the last!"

did the room next morning," said won't. He's not got sense enough while he's in this terrible trouble," Murtha.

to learn it. But he didn't kill Miss said Lady Parkinson.. "Suppose," the Inspector persist-Croom. He was never et Haver- . "I don't want to rake anything ed, "that Miss Croom found it after stock II that night. I'll take my up. I'm going to see him through he had gone, and put it away in her oath on that. The question is: Only I can't trust him. Whatever work box, for instance, or some-Where was het Somewhere he's he tells me, I shan't be able to be-j where out of sight,"

ashamed to admit, I'll be bound.lieve he's keeping nothing back. a clean All I hope is that he can prove he "Well, of course, she might," But he'll have to make. Martha dubiously admitted. "But breast. Unless he does, I can't was somewhere else that Thursday she'd have been more likely to give help him."

night, even if it was the most dis- reputable place on earth. We'll have Sir Henry Ackerman.

"You speak," moaned Lady Parkinson, as if he were certain to be arrested. But the detective said he only wanted a few words--"- can guess what they will be"!

As he was speaking Lupton'en- tored.

"The car is at the door, Sir Joseph"

it to me to throw away, if she didn't Sir Joseph knocked out his pipe expect to see him again."

in the fender, poured out another Still, if scemed possible that cup of tea, and drank it. Then he Parkinson had left the glove at filled his pipe again, and returning Baynton Crescent on Monday after-to his chair, sat watching his wife noon, and that Miss Croom put it as she still wiped her eyes at in somewhere out of sight, in one of tervala. It was some time later the cabinets, perhaps, or on a that he suddenly started to his corner of the overmantel behind one foot.

of the china ornaments. There it "I shall go to Cliff Street," he might have remained till the exclaimed. "I must see him, hear, visitant on Thursday spotted it, what he has to say for himself." after the committal of the crime, "Joe," Lady Parkinson entreat-

ed, "you won't be too hard" side, stooping over her and kissing and used it to cross the scont.

"One more question," said Pow. "By the Lord," said Sir Joseph, her forehead.

"I want to know whether you saw its Everard who's hard-hard

LETTER. GOLF SOLUTION.

Here in the aolution to the puzzle on another page,

OLF GOLD FOLD

F|O|N|D|

Sir Joseph went to his wife's FIND

-,

"Don't fret more than you can FINS

anything of a black metal box that on me. On you, too, though ho pro-help," he whispered: "I'll get him

Miss Croom kept in her wardrobe," fesses to be so fond of you. A de off if it costs every penny FANS

"I never set eyes on anything of villah strange way of showing it." possess.".__.

the kind," answered Märtha. "It's He rang the bell, and when

true the often locked herself in her Lupton entered, told him to order room, but I know nothing of any the car at once.

(To be continued)

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